Taking the development strategy of “first class in China, leading in Region and With Central Plains’ Characteristics”, Henan University aims to develop into one of the top universities in China in terms of school running index and overall capacity by the middle of the century, for which, talent team construction is the critical backing. Thus, the Special Talent Zone Support Program is initiated to better implement the talent-based development strategy and reinforce the building of high-level talent teams.

I. Objectives

Guided by the national Overall Plan for Coordinately Advancing the Construction of World Renowned Universities and Disciplines, Henan University has been carrying out the principle of adhering to talent training and recruitment as well, with an aim to implement the talent-based development strategy, establishing a definite and distinctive talent training and recruitment system so as to bring up a number of disciplinary leaders and academic backbones which can provide a guarantee for establishing Henan University as one of China’s top universities.

II. Positions and Entitlements

The entitlements of the employed talents are divided into four grades:

(I)Grade One

1. Qualifications for Application

(1) The applicant should have moral integrity and a rigorous and matter-of-the-fact attitude in research. S/He should be a first-class scholar in her/his field of study and leading academic experienced in disciplinary construction, with international reputation and influence, as well as flagship research achievements.

(2) The applicant should be currently working on teaching or scientific research and be physically and mentally capable for the role.

(3)The applicant should also meet one of the following criteria:

① academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences or Chinese Academy of Engineering;

② distinguished talent of National Special Support Program (Ten Thousand Talents Program);

In addition to the entitlements for academicians introduced on a full-time basis by Henan Province, the introduced professor will be offered preferential conditions by the University. Each awardee will receive a one-off, settling-in allowance of RMB 2 million. As for research fund, each professor will be offered RMB 20-30 million (for natural and engineering sciences) or 4-6 million (for humanity and social sciences). In addition, an apartment of about 200 square meters will be provided as per accommodation arrangement. Her/His spouse and children of working age will be offered job opportunities, and dependent children will have guaranteed admission to schools or kindergartens. The awardee will be supported by a research team with capacity of 5-7 members with senior titles or doctorates). Research assistants and cars will be provided upon request.

（II）Grade Two

1. Qualifications for Application

(1)The applicant should have moral integrity, and a rigorous and matter-of-the-fact attitude in research. S/He is required to be a renowned scholar and disciplinary leader, with established academic reputation and influence, as well as outstanding teaching and research achievements.

（2）The applicant should be currently working on teaching or scientific research and be physically and mentally capable for the role.. The age limit is 50-year-old for awardees in natural and engineering sciences and 55-year-old for humanity and social sciences. Age limit can be waived under special circumstances.

（3）The applicant should also meet one of the following criteria:

① awardee of the Recruitment Program for Innovative Talents (Long Term) (known as Thousand Talent Program) or the Thousand Talent Program for Foreign Experts;

② distinguished professor of the Changjiang Scholar Award by the Ministry of Education;

③ awardee of National Science Fund for Outstanding Young Scholars;

④ leading academic of National Special Support Program (Ten Thousand Talent Program);

⑤ a lifetime associate professorship (or equivalent) in top universities of the world (or R&D institutes).

2. Entitlements

Each awardee will receive an annual salary of 0.8 million RMB and a one-off, settling-in allowance of 1 million RMB. As for research fund, each professor will be offered RMB 10-20 million for natural and engineering sciences or 2-4 million RMB for humanity and social sciences. In addition, In addition, a flat of about 170 square meters will be provided as per accommodation arrangement. Her/His spouse will be offered job opportunity, and dependent children will have guaranteed admission to schools or kindergartens. The awardee will also be supported by a research team with capacity of 3-5 members with senior titles or doctorates.

（III）Grade Three

1. Qualifications for Application

（1）The applicant should be a person of moral integrity and a rigorous and matter-of-the-fact attitude in research work. S/He is required to be a renowned scholar or promising young and middle-aged researcher with good academic influence, as well as high-level teaching and research achievements.

（2）The applicant should be currently working on teaching or scientific research and be physically and mentally capable for the role. The age limit is 50-year-old for awardees in natural and engineering sciences and 55-year-old for humanity and social sciences. Age limit can be waived under special circumstances.

（3）The applicant should also meet one of the following criteria:

①the distinguished young talent of National Special Support Program (Ten Thousand Talent Program);

②the Young Changjiang Scholar of the Ministry of Education;

③awardee of the National Thousand Talent Program for Young Outstanding Scientists;

④winner of National Science Fund for Excellent Young Scholars;

⑤selected by 100 Scientist Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences;

⑥state-level candidate of Millions of Talents Program;

⑦chief expert of the Major Bid Invitation Project of National Social Science Fund;

⑧chief scientist of the Major Research Plan of National Natural Science Foundation;

Each awardee will receive an annual salary of 0.6 million RMB and a one-off, settling-in allowance of 0.5 million RMB. As for research fund, each professor will be offered RMB 5-8 million (for natural and engineering sciences) or 1.5-2 million (for humanity and social sciences). In addition, an apartment of about 140 square meters will be provided as per accommodation arrangement Her/His spouse will be offered job opportunity, and dependent children will have guaranteed admission to schools or kindergartens. The awardee will also be supported by a research team with capacity of 2-3 members with senior titles or doctorates.

(IV)Grade Four

1. Qualifications for Application

（1） The applicant should be a young scholar with high moral integrity, and a rigorous and matter-of-the-fact attitude in research work. S/He is required to have good academic influence in her/his own specialty with overseas working or study experience, or great academic potentials.

（2）The applicant should be currently working on teaching or scientific research and be physically and mentally capable for the role.. The age limit is 35-year-old for awardees in natural and engineering sciences and 40-year-old for humanity and social sciences. Age limit can be waived under special circumstances.

（3）The applicant should also meet one of the following criteria:

① a doctorate granted by world renowned universities or postdoctoral experience for at least 3 years at prestigious universities or R&D institutes with excellent research achievements;

② leader of the key programs of National Natural Science Foundation who has published at least 10 academic papers as first or first corresponding author in the Top scientific journals (identified by the University) or above with good other-citation record;

③ leader of the key programs of National Social Sciences who has published at least 5 papers as single or first author in journals cited in the SSCI database or above with great influence in relevant academic field.

2. Entitlements

Each awardee will receive an annual salary of 0.4 million RMB and a one-off, settling-in allowance of 0.3 million RMB. As for research fund, each professor will be offered RMB 1.5-2 million (for natural and engineering sciences) or 0.5-1 million (for humanities and social sciences). In addition, an apartment of about 140 square meters will be provided as per accommodation arrangement. Her/His spouse will be offered job opportunity, and dependent children will have guaranteed admission to schools or kindergartens. The awardee will also be supported for a research team with capacity of 1-2 members with senior titles or doctorates.

III. Other Provisions

（I）The introduced talent without a professor title shall be offered a full professorship by Henan University.

（II）A selected talent will be paid in accordance with annual salary system. S/He whose achievements exceed expectations shall be paid for bonus by the University.

（III）The current members of the staff of Henan University who meet Program criteria are welcome to apply. S/He will enjoy the above-mentioned entitlements of annual salary, academic team, and half of research fund of the corresponding grades.

（V）The successful applicant is required to sign an agreement for 5 years as an initial employment term. The contents of the Agreement and the selection process shall comply with Henan University Talent Zone Administrative Measures (see Annex).

（VI）Other relevant issues might be discussed on a “case-by-case” basis by Henan University.

IV. Supplementary Provisions

（I）Policies of “Zhongyuan Scholar Program”, “Henan Province Distinguished Professor Program”, “Henan University Huanghe Scholar Program”, and “Henan University Distinguished Professor Program” shall remain the same as the original before amendment.

（II）The Program shall come into force as of the date of promulgation

（III）Human Resources Department of Henan University reserves all the rights for the interpretation of the described Program.

Appendix:

Henan University Special Talent Zone Administrative Measures

I．Objective

The talent zone shall be established based on superior and characteristic disciplines and key research institutes at the levels of the state, Province and University.

II．Recruiting Procedure

(I)Application

Applicants may visit the website http://rsc.henu.edu.cn to download the application forms, and complete the form with evidence attached and hand in to the recruitment units.

3. The recruitment unit shall hold Party-Administration meeting to decide on the appointments, grading, and funding arrangement based on the applications. The results will be reported to the Human Resource.

4. The recruitment unit shall draft a Contract Duration Task Statement which is scientific, standard, and measurable for different post grades and report to Department of Human Resources for review.

（III）Appointment

1. Department of Human Resources shall invite experts from other universities to conduct peer review by correspondence, including overseas experts if necessary.

2. Department of Human Resources shall submit peer review results to the school academic committee for voting. The applications of short listed candidates shall be reported to the President’s Meeting for final approval.

3. Under special circumstances, Human Resource with the approval of school leader in charge may invite experts in related fields to review applications and report to the school Steering Group for Talent Development.

5. Henan University shall sign the Agreement with the successful candidate and award an appointment letter.

III. Employment Terms

（I）The talent zone adopts the system of employment term (5 years for each term).

（II）With school’s approval, s/he who applies to terminate the agreement and transfer may leave the present post after going through pre-arranged procedures (annual salary shall be calculated according to actual work time, unused research fund recalled, settling-in allowance converted into payment, the flat returned ). Meanwhile, her/his spouse who has received a job offer shall resign. Any unsettled matters shall be handled according to the Agreement.

IV. Performance Appraisal

The recruitment unit shall make comprehensive reviews on the appointee’s teaching, research and social service according to the goals and tasks stipulated in the Agreement in the midterm (completion of 3 years) and at the expiry (5 years) of contract.

Appraisal procedures are as follows:

（I）Summary

The introduced talent shall check against the Agreement her/his performance of teaching, research and social service and submit an overall written summary.

（II）Review

The peer review system shall be conducted. Conventionally, 5-7 external renowned experts may be invited as appraisers to review and rate the appointee’s performance on a scale of outstanding, satisfactory, and unsatisfactory.

V. Renewal or Denial

（I）For midterm outstanding and satisfactory appointee, the signed Agreement will continue. The Agreement terminates automatically for whom did not pass the review process. The dismissed may apply for other posts or conduct resignation procedures within 3 months after dismissal (meanwhile, her/his spouse who has received a job offer shall resign).

（II）The contract-end outstanding appointee shall receive a one-off bonus (total 5 per cent of annual salary) and agreement renewal for a second term. The contract-end satisfactory appointee may sign for a new term. The contract-end unsatisfactory appointee shall be dismissed and may apply for other posts or conduct resignation procedures within 3 months (meanwhile, her/his spouse who has received a job offer shall resign).

（III）Conventionally, the distinguished professor at talent zone appointed for a second term shall be under 60 years old. The senior appointee of 60-65 may exceptionally be considered for the purpose of promoting the research and teaching activities of the University.

VI. Supplementary Provisions

Department of Human Resources shall be responsible for the interpretation of the Administrative Measures which shall come into force as of the date of promulgation.